April 21, 2014
Vinopolis on the Move
As announced last week, we are moving soon to a new location at 1610 Northwest Glisan Street. We don’t have an exact date of the new opening yet but expect it to be around April 25 -28. Until then, business as usual here. Today you’ll find our last chance offers from the SW Washington St location.
USA-CALIFORNIA
Palazzo Cabernet Franc 2008 ($79.95) $44 special, 3+ cases available
Robert Parker 92 points “The 2008 Cabernet Franc, a wine Palazzo seems to have a Midas’ touch with, has a deep bluish/ruby/purple color. Notes of cedar wood, spice box, bay leaf, black currant and black cherry fruit jump from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, elegant, ethereal wine. It displays good ripeness and moderately sweet tannin. It should be better in 2-3 years and evolve for 12-15+.”
Seghesio Zinfandel Sonoma 2012 ($21.95) $18 special, 3+ cases available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Jammed with zesty fruit, offering bold blackberry and licorice aromas and rich, well-structured black cherry, smoky pepper and grilled anise flavors.”
Joseph Carr Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2012 ($17.95) $11.90 special, 3+ cases available
Winemaker’s note: “Pear, peach, melon, wet stone, toasted almonds, crème brulée in the nose. Rich attack with great up front density, almonds, stone fruits and toffee in dense mid palate, good balance with up-lifting acidity and a long finish of crème brulée and pear.”
The Scholium Project Marcher Sur La Lune 2009 ($29.95) $18 special, 27 bottles available
(Verdelho) Barrel and Skin contact. Distributor note: “They crushed the majority of the fruit to press and captured the juice in a wooden fermenter. They reserved about a fifth of the harvest and destemmed but did not press it. Whole berries; no stems, but all of the skin and seeds. When they had finished pressing, they shoveled in the destemmed fruit. As the fermentation progressed, the fruit would float to the surface, and they would perform a pumpover to make sure that it integrated with the juice, and the the developing wine extracted tannins from the skins and seeds. The result is a wine no less pleasurable but in fact more so: more so for its rigor, definition, and subtle power. You do not taste skins or seeds– this is purely a white wine, but you sense their place in the structure of the wine. 285 cases produced”
Tablas Creek Esprit De Tablas Rouge 2011 ($59.95) $39 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “A blend of 40% Mourvedre, 30% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Counoise, the 2011 Esprit de Tablas has a core of sweet black raspberry and cassis that is cut by more savory, meaty nuances, pepper and spice. Medium to full-bodied, rich and beautifully textured, with ripe tannin, it’s a more streamlined, fresh version of the cuvee that relies more on elegance and complexity than sheer depth and richness. It will have 10-12 years of longevity.”
USA-WASHINGTON
Betz Besoleil 2010 ($49.95) $41.90 special, 11 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “(65% grenache, 18% mourvedre, 11% cinsault and 6% syrah): Bright red. Captivating nose offers strawberry, animal fur, garrigue, black and white pepper and flowers. Wonderfully aromatic and smooth in the mouth, with excellent sappy lift to the raspberry and cherry flavors complicated by wild herbs and pepper. Finishes structured and long, with suave, slowly building tannins. Very Old World in style (and specifically southern French) but with distinctly Washington red fruit flavors. This was the first year Bob Betz added cinsault to the blend, and that variety has certainly added another element of red fruit perfume. (Incidentally, there no Clos du Chapitre in 2010.)”
Betz Cabernet Sauvignon Pere De Famille 2011 ($79.95) $66 special, 16 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 (+?) points “(blended with 9% petit verdot and 3% merlot): Good bright red-ruby. Musky red berries, licorice, thyme, rosemary and pepper on the scented nose. Creamy-sweet, suave and deep but at the same time precise and youthful, offering lovely perfumed flavors of red berries, cocoa powder (from the Taransaud oak?) and anise. Very intensely flavored cabernet with terrific lift and aromatic persistence and remarkably suave, dusty tannins. Betz describes 2011 as a year with lower total polyphenols, higher acidity and lower pHs than 2010.”
USA-OREGON
Maysara Pinot Noir Cyrus 2010 ($39.95) $29 special, 3+ cases available
Wine Advocate 91 points “A cuvee favoring a balance between the lowest- and highest-elevation portions of Momtazi, the 2010 Pinot Noir Cyrus spent 18 months in 30% new barrels. Strongly reminiscent of forest floor and roasted meat pan juices, this also boasts forward, tart-edged red raspberry and red currant, along with a maritime salinity, alkalinity, and hint of kelp. It finishes with invigorating penetration and persistent complexity. There isn’t the refinement of tannin here that I experienced with the ostensibly lesser Jamsheed cuvee of 2009, but I am inclined to view the present wine as simply structurally well-undergirded, and it should be worth following for 6-8 years.”
Et Fille Deux Vert Vineyard Viognier 2011 ($27.95) $20.90 special, 11 bottles available
Rich, with spicy, floral and melon notes.
Teutonic Fein Mischung Laurel Vyd White 2012 ($24.95) $21.90 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points
FRANCE- BURGUNDY
Leroy Aligote 2009 ($89.95) $59 special 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2010 Chablis Vaudesir is pure class and elegance. Layers of subtle, perfumed fruit caress the palate in this highly expressive Chablis. Everything is in the right place. The 2010 is all about subtlety. This is one of the more finessed Fevre 2010s. I love the balance of aromatics, fruit and acidity. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.”Henri Boillot Chassagne Chaumees 2011 ($84.95) $69 special 18 bottles available
Burghound 91 points ‘Outstanding’ “This is aromatically quite different from the Embrazées with an exceptionally pure and cool nose that features extract of white orchard fruit, lemon zest, wet stone and subtle spice nuances. There is a sophisticated mouth feel to the generous yet refined middle weight flavors that possess a remarkably well-delineated, even chiseled finish that avoids any hint of austerity.”Henri Boillot Puligny Montrachet Perrieres 2011 ($109.95) $88 special 19 bottles available
Burghound 93 points ‘Sweet Spot Outstanding’ “A cool and pure nose features notes of citrus peel, pear, apple, wet stone and white peach. There is a lovely sense of refinement and underlying tension to the medium-bodied flavors that also coat the mouth with plenty of dry extract before culminating a saline mineral-driven finish. This is terrific.”
Bize Savigny les Beaune Talmettes 2010 ($59.95) $49 special 14 bottles available
Burghound 89-92 points “Here the nose is quite similar to that of the Serpentières with its violets and lavender scents that combine with notable earth and underbrush-infused red berry fruit aromas. There is good richness, size and weight to the round yet relatively refined medium-bodied flavors that possess a fine sense of balance on the mouth coating finish. I like the mouth feel and if this moderately structured effort can develop more depth in bottle, it just might catch the Fourneaux in time.”
JJ Confuron Chambolle Musigny 2010 ($64.95) $49 special 22 bottles available
Burghound 87-90 points “A very pretty and perfumed nose features notes of raspberry, violets and cassis that are in keeping with the solidly ripe, rich and agreeably round flavors that possess good volume yet a delicate mouth feel, all wrapped in a broad and utterly delicious finish. This generous offering is very Chambollesque in character.”
Dupont Tisserandot Gevrey Chambertin Les Cazetiers 2010 ($119.95) $77 special 22 bottles available
Burghound 92-94 points “Very mild reduction does not completely hide the much more deeply pitched nose that is more sauvage in character and while the fruit is muted, there is a clear floral component. There is excellent mid-palate density to the powerful and broad-shouldered flavors that possess a textured mouth feel before culminating in a precise, intense and very stony finish that delivers grand cru length and punch. I have pointed this out before but the Dupont Cazetiers always seems to be particularly successful and the 2010 version is no exception.”
Claude Dugat Gevrey Chambertin 2008 ($119.95) $69 special 9 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89 points “Good red-ruby color. Dark fruits, spices, game and leather on the nose. Good density of material is currently fighting strong acidity, giving the wine a slightly tart quality and a disjointed character. Rather severe today, but the penetrating spicy acidity extends the finish. This very serious village wine will require at least a few years of bottle aging.”
Faiveley Nuits St Georges Les Porets St Georges 2006 ($69.95) $59 special 10 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “Very discreet if not invisible wood frames ripe animale aromas that include game, underbrush and serious dark pinot fruit aromas that are very Nuits in character and this frank typicity continues onto the structured and slightly rustic broad-shouldered flavors that culminate in real power, weight and punch. This is a big wine with plenty of muscle and it will need at least a decade to be at its best.”
Forey Clos de Vougeot 2006 ($199.95) $149 special 8 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “In contrast to the Echézeaux, this is relatively elegant as the expressive nose features earthy dark berry fruit and floral aromas that are at present intensely animale in character that are in keeping with the robust, textured and impressively concentrated full-bodied flavors that also possess ample levels of dry extract. This too is a big and powerful wine that is youthfully austere, brooding and even more structured yet impeccably well balanced. Terrific.”
Violot Guillemard Beaune Clos de Mouche 2009 ($69.95) $59 special 8 bottles available
Burghound 90 points “A soupçon of wood does not interfere with the transparency of the very fresh mineral-inflected red pinot fruit aromas that complement the equally fresh and energetic middle weight flavors that possess good mid-palate density and culminate in a racy, detailed and focused finish. Lovely and while this is not especially complex at present, the underlying material is such that it appears that more depth will develop.”
Harmand- Geoffroy Gevrey Chambertin Clos Prieure 2009 ($69.95) $59 special 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Prieur emerges from the glass with layers of dark fruit, minerals, white flowers and spices. It shows considerable depth and finesse in the deep, fruit-driven style that is the hallmark at this address. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.”
FRANCE- RHONE
Boisson Cairanne 2011 ($19.95) $16.60 special 20 bottles available
Mas de Boislauzon Cotes du Rhone 2011 ($19.95) $16 special 21 bottles available
Saint Cosme Gigondas La Louisiane 2011 ($34.95) $27 special 14 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Inky ruby. Black and blue fruits on the heady spicy, floral nose. Offers lush blackberry and mulberry flavors and a touch of mocha, picking up smokiness with air. Sweet and silky in texture, finishing with strong cut, clarity and cling. The fruit here seems to have already absorbed the tannins.”
Cuvee du Vatican Chateauneuf du Pape 2010 ($44.95) $36 special 17 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Very fleshy and succulent, with dark fig and linzer torte flavors that show anise and blackberry hints. Amble toasted spice and singed alder notes fill in on the finish, and this has a lovely silky feel despite its weight. Best from 2014 through 2026.”
La Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape 2010 ($59.95) $39 special 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2010 La Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape exhibits the rare combination of unbridled power and freshness, minerality and abundant aromatics. A well-made, delicious red, with blueberry, boysenberry, black raspberry fruit, some background wood smoke, and the tell-tale Provencal garrigue, pepper and loamy soil notes, it is a wine of finesse, power and richness that should drink nicely for 10 to 15+ years.”
Clos du Caillou Chateauneuf Les Safres 2009 ($79.95) $39 special 15 bottles available
Robert Parker 91 points “The dark plum/ruby/purple-tinged 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Safres is showing better from bottle than it did last year from barrel. A blend of 95% Grenache and the rest Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsault aged in old foudres, reveals classic notes of herbes de Provence, cherry jam and lavender in a full-bodied, opulent, sexy, open-knit style typical of many 2009s. This broad, rich Chateauneuf is ideal for drinking over the next 10-12 years.”
Clos des Papes 2005 ($179.95) $148 special 25 bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 points “Really tight now, but packed with dark fig, currant, espresso, licorice and chocolate notes. Superfleshy but seriously structured, there’s layer after layer of sweet spice, fruit and minerality pumping through the finish, with lots of latent depth and power. Far more backward than the 2003 or 2004 on release, but since this red typically puts on weight as it ages, it should be a monster–à la the 1990–when it reaches its peak. Best from 2009 through 2030.”
Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin 2010 ($149.95) $99 special 33 bottles available
Robert Parker 98 points “The 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Chaupin rivals the 2007 Chaupin (to date the best Chaupin I have yet tasted). Made from 100% Grenache (3/4 destemmed), it boasts a dense black/purple color as well as unbelievable notes of raspberries, black cherries, licorice, truffles, camphor, forest floor and garrigue. This wine is stunningly concentrated, incredibly noble, precise and expansive on the palate with mouth-saturating intensity, glycerin and extract. It is an amazing example of impeccably grown old vine Grenache translated into a natural yet full-throttle red.”
Faury Cote Rotie 2009 ($79.95) $59 special 24 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(this includes 10% viognier, which Lionel Faury said was not typical for the northern part of the appellation, where the soils are mostly schist): Vivid ruby. Raspberry, cherry and violet on the sexy, perfumed nose. Juicy and energetic, with very good depth and focus to its tangy red and dark berry flavors. Becomes spicier with air and finishes with excellent clarity and lingering sweetness. I find this wine quite approachable now but it has the depth and balance to age”
Jean Michel Gerin St Joseph 2009 ($34.95) $29 special 16 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Taut and winey, almost Cabernet-like, with roasted cedar and vanilla notes ingrained in the dark currant, coffee and loam flavors. The roasted wood finish feels a touch shy on flesh now, but should soften enough with modest cellaring. Best from 2013 through 2018.”
FRANCE- BORDEAUX
Coutet Barsac 2003 ($59.95) $49 special 24+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Honey, apple tart and lemon rind. Full-bodied, medium-sweet and very spicy with intense flavors of mace, apple and honey. Long finish. Thick and powerful. Best after 2010.”
La Clemence Pomerol 2000 ($99.95) $59 special 24+ bottles available
Robert Parker 91 points “This looks to be the strongest effort to date from the Dauriac-Rolland team. Deep, opaque purple-colored, with a tight but promising nose of truffles, licorice, underbrush, incense, and black fruits, this big, huge, dense, full-bodied Pomerol shows no compromising for readers looking for something immediately drinkable. As the French would say, a true vin de garde. This backstrapping, muscular wine is loaded, but patience is most definitely a virtue. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022+.”
Laforge St. Emilion 2009 ($99.95) $59 special 11 bottles available
Robert Parker 96 points “From proprietor Jonathan Maltus, this blend of three terroirs, two on sand and one on gravel, is a blend of 92% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. About 2,000 cases are produced, and the prodigious 2009 is the finest vintage to date. Inky blue/purple, with notes of licorice, camphor, black truffle, blackberry and blueberry, this full-bodied wine has massive concentration yet at the same time displays elegance and harmony. The equilibrium and 60+-second length make for a huge, massive, but incredibly well-balanced wine, like a shadow of the proprietor himself. Drink it over the next 15 or more years.”
Deyrem Valentin Margaux 2010 ($49.95) $33 special 30 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Located north of Margaux village, Deyrem Valentin is a small, family-owned property of 32 acres that represents one of the values of Margaux. This wine is smooth, polished and concentrated, with flavors of wood and a sweet-tasting blackberry. The acidity and tannins demonstrate a fine balancing act. This shows good aging potential.”
Haut Bages Liberal Pauillac 2006 375ml ($39.95) $33 special 4 bottles available
Haut Bages Liberal Pauillac 2006 750ml ($69.95) $59 special 13 bottles available
Haut Bages Liberal Pauillac 2006 6 LITER ($599.95) $399 special 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Dark ruby purple in color, with aromas of currant and dried flowers. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicious finish. Tight now, but pretty and balanced. Best after 2012.”
FRANCE- BEAUJOLAIS
Bouland Morgon Corecelette Vieilles Vignes 2011 ($27.95) $21.90 special 21 bottles available
John Gilman 94 points “Daniel Bouland’s small parcel in the lieu à dit of Corcelette was planted almost entirely in 1925, making these venerable vines eighty-six years of age in the 2011 vintage. The old vines have done an admirable job in this classic vintage, offering up a deep, complex and nicely reserved nose of cassis, black cherries, stony soil tones, woodsmoke, a touch of espresso and lovely topnotes of fresh thyme and sage. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and beautifully focused, with a rock solid core of pure black fruit, bright acids, excellent focus and balance and a very, very long, tangy and modestly tannic finish. A complete classic. 2014-2050.”
Vissoux Moulin a Vent Les Trois Roche 2010 ($29.95) $21.90 special 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright violet color. Pungent aromas of red and dark berry preserves, with musky herb and lavender nuances building with air. Juicy, palate-staining black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show subtle sweetness and very good clarity. Finishes with noteworthy energy and focus, leaving licorice and cherry pit notes behind.”
Guy Breton Morgon 2009 ($34.95) $29.50 special 26 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-92 points “Breton’s 2009 Morgon Vieilles Vignes is one of those wines of its vintage positively peachy in its expression of sheer ripeness, boasting as well intense red raspberry and cherry, nut extracts, inner-mouth florality and spices (like its Regnie sibling), but also dark chocolate and toasted pecan underlying richness as well as suggestions of crushed stone and forest floor. There is lovely lift to the long finish and ample sense of brightness and refreshment to accompany its plush texture and glyceral richness, thus belying the wine’s low sulfur. I would expect this beauty to be worth following for 5-6 years”
Domaine des Nugues Fleurie 2010 ($24.95) $19.90 special 6 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “An impressive wine, finely balanced between fragrant red fruits and firm tannins. It shows how structured a Fleurie can be, the acidity cutting through the firm structure. This is a wine for aging, over 4 years, when it will round out and bring out the rich texture.”
FRANCE- LOIRE VALLEY
Baudry Chinon Les Granges 2012 ($19.95) $16 special 21 bottles available
Bregeon Muscadet Reserve 2004 ($34.95) $27 special 28 bottles available
Andre Neveu Sancerre Les Grand Fricambaults 2012 ($27.95) $21.90 special 20 bottles available
Pepiere Muscadet Clos des Briords 2012 ($21.95) $18 special 26 bottles available
Importer notes “An old-vines cuvee of Muscadet from a single plot vineyard planted in schist. These are among the oldest vines in Marc’s estate (they were planted in 1930) and enjoy a particularly good exposition. While most of Marc’s vines are planted on poor, shallow soil with hard granite very close to the surface, the Clos des Briords has a much deeper top soil of clay and silica over a brittle granite subsoil: this ensures excellent drainage in wet years, and better moisture retention in dry summers. Ripening is slower, and the longer hang-time before harvest allows for optimal maturity to be reached. Because of the soil and greater concentration achieved with old vines, the Clos des Briords is a more powerful wine that most Muscadets. It is very mineral and quite austere in its youth, rather than fruity and light. Over a few months, or even years, if one can wait for it, it develops much complexity in aromatics and structure.”
FRANCE- CHAMPAGNE
AYALA Champagne Rose Brut Majeur NV ($59.95) $33 special 24+ bottles available
Case-6 AYALA Champagne Rose Brut Majeur NV ($199.95) $179 (that’s 29.83 per bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “(made from 51% chardonnay, 39% pinot noir – about a quarter of which is still red wine – and 10% pinot meunier; disgorged September, 2011): Pale orange. Bright, mineral-accented aromas of orange peal, brioche and white flowers, with a spicy topnote. Silky and open-knit, offering tangy citrus fruit and red berry flavors and a hint of toastiness. Closes smooth, fruity and long, with good breadth and clarity.”
Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Gastronome NV ($59.95) $49 special 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2008 Brut Chardonnay Premier Cru Cuvee Gastronome is a blend of fruit from Chouilly, Cuis, Cramant, Oger and Vertus. Here the fruit begins to take on slightly greater textural richness and depth. Crisp yellow-fleshed fruits, flowers, almonds and spices are all woven together beautifully. The 2008 stands out for its inner perfume, sweetness and inviting personality. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.”
Paul Bara Brut Grand Cru NV ($49.95) $39 special 29 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Light yellow-gold. Mineral-accented aromas of pear and peach pit, with smoke and floral qualities adding complexity. Sappy, penetrating redcurrant and orchard fruit flavors are lifted by zesty minerality and pick up smokiness with air. Finishes sappy and long, with lingering floral and mineral qualities.”
Piollot Reserve Extra Brut NV ($39.95) $24 special 13 bottles available
“Light yellow in color and with a cordon of delicate bubbles, this Champagne delivers a nose of great maturity, with floral notes of hawthorn and fruit notes of cherry plums blending harmoniously on a base of pleasantly evolving aromas. In the mouth the attack is straightforward, followed by the full richness of Pinot Noir. Full and well balanced, this wine provides a good length. Thanks to its freshness, this is a cuvée noted for a fine aromatic expression and an elegant nature.”
Marie Courtin Resonance Extra Brut NV [2010]($59.95) $49 special 24+ bottles available
Antonio Gallonio 94 points “Green apples, pears, mint and white flowers meld together in the NV (2010) Extra Brut Resonance, 100% Pinot Noir from 35-40 year-old vines. Citrus, lime and a host of bright aromas and flavors suggest Chablis with bubbles. The Resonance is simply bristling with energy and focus today. This is a fabulous wine from proprietress Dominique Moreau. This bottle was disgorged in May 2013.”
AUSTRALIA
Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2012 ($12.95) $7.50 special, 24 bottles available
Case-12 Porcupine Ridge Syrah 2012 ($149.95) $79 special, 1 case available
Wine Spectator 88 points “Offers a lightly roasted feel, with an espresso frame and notes of ganache, steeped plum and blackberry fruit hanging through the finish, where white pepper flickers.”
Two Hands Angels Share Shiraz 2012 ($39.95) $21.90 special, 3+ cases available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Dark and dense in color, opening a bit in texture, with grippy tannins wound around a solid core of blackberry and red plum flavors, lingering on the expressive finish. Drink now through 2020. “
Betts And Scholl Black Betty Shiraz 2007 ($59.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator & Stephen Tanzer 92 points: “Inky ruby. Pungent, heady aromas of black raspberry, cola, incense and potpourri. Smells like a head shop, with notes of patchouli and star anise coming up with air. Taut and focused, offering spicy red and dark berry flavors and a strong suggestion of cracked pepper. Livelier than the excellent 2006, with strong finishing cut and spicy persistence. These grapes were not destemmed. “
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Mauro Molino Barbera D’alba Vigna Gattere 2009 ($34.95) $28 special
Elio Altare Barbera D’Alba 2012 ($24.95) $18 special, 29 bottles available
“Intensely colored a dark ruby red, this Barbera’s nose is characteristic of the grape: it is fine and elegant, with notes of blackberry and sweet spices. Clean, rich, and soft on the palate, it balances good tannins with lovely freshness and a long finish.”–Importer Notes
Produttori Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo 2012 ($19.95) $16 special, 29 bottles available
Marziano Abbona Terlo Ravera Barolo 2006 ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Raspberry, cherry, iron and floral notes mark this silky red, which is fresh and complex at once, with a refined structure, gret harmony and elegance. Almost approachable now, but the long finish and tight tannins suggest this has plenty of life ahead. Best from 2014 through 2030.”
Bruna Grimaldi Barolo Camilla 2009 ($37.95) $26.60 special, 3+ cases available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The lovely 2009 Barolo Camilla opens to characteristic Nebbiolo aromas of wild berry, dried mint, licorice tar and pressed rose. The wine is elegant and feminine overall with fine, silky tannins at the rear. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025”
ITALY-TUSCANY
Antinori Tignanello 2010 ($119.95) $99 special, 22 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Antinori’s 2010 Tignanello is stunning, as it has been since I started tasting the component wines in 2011. Firm yet sweet, silky tannins form the backbone for this gorgeous, vivid wine. Dark red cherries, plums, cloves, mint and sage inform a Tignanello that impresses for its delineation, nuance and power. Clean, saline notes support the mineral-drenched finish. The 2010 isn’t huge, but rather is a vertical wine endowed with tremendous energy and vibrancy. I can’t remember a Tignanello with this much crystalline tension and pure energy. Simply put, the 2010 Tignanello is a magnificent, towering wine from Antinori.”
Casanova Neri Brunello Di Montalcino 2008 ($49.95) $33 special, 28 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2008 Brunello di Montalcino sweeps across the palate with superb richness and depth. Dark cherries, plums, spices, tobacco and menthol blossom as the wine opens up in the glass. A decidedly large-scaled, dramatic wine for the year, the 2008 impresses for its pure resonance and rich, enveloping finish. This is one of the most rewarding 2008s to drink upon release, but it should also age well for a number of years.”
La Fuga Brunello Di Montalcino 2006 ($59.95) $39 special, 15 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer & Wine Advocate 92 points “Good full, deep red. Complex, expressive nose offers blackberry, black raspberry, sassafras, cola, earth, licorice, mocha and minerals. Sweet, pliant and rich, but with very good energy and an impression of strong extract to the flavors of red fruits and spices. Boasts very good density and volume but excellent definition as well. Finishes long and subtle, with firm tannins and heady aromatic lift. This wine tightened up with air, suggesting that it really should be cellared.”
Montepeloso Eneo Suvereto 2010 ($59.95) $38 special, 22 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points “One of the great wines of this vintage, the 2010 Eneo is dazzling. Subtle hints of earthiness, new leather, smoke, bacon fat, tobacco and savory herbs meld into a core of expressive dark red/black fruit. Nuanced and delicate, yet immensely powerful, the 2010 Eneo has it all. The 2010 keeps getting better and better in the glass. I imagine it will be spectacular in another few years. Actually, it already is. Eneo is the largest production of Montepeloso’s three top reds, which will make it easier to find. Readers will not want to miss the superb wine. Montepulciano and Sangiovese are the core of Eneo, while dollops of Alicante and Marsellan round out the blend.”
ITALY-MISC
Terre Nere Etna Rosso Santo Spirito 2011 ($49.95) $39 special, 16 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 (+?) points “Bright red. Captivating aromas of red cherry, graphite, aromatic herbs and violet. Then rich, dense and suave in the mouth, offering ripe red cherry and red berry flavors and extremely silky tannins. The bright acidity gives this wine a refined, almost austere quality. Finishes very long and dry, but not drying. An absolute knockout of a wine, and the best Santo Spirito ever. Made from a higher-altitude vineyard that usually delivers very fine, silky tannins, this wine is a major success in 2011, a year in which higher vineyards were generally penalized by rainfall. If you know Barolo well–for example the wines of Monforte–then think of Etna’s Guardiola like Ginestra (more fleshy and tannic), while Santo Spirito is more like Bussia (powerful but graceful).”
Lageder Lagrein Rose 2011 ($21.95) $17 special, 27 bottles available
Grape variety: Lagrein.
Galardi Terra Di Lavoro 2006 ($149.95) $99 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “Once again I am at a loss to capture the sheer beauty of Terra di Lavoro. The 2006 is a remarkably elegant and pure vintage of this wine, where layers of flowers, violets, graphite, tar, smoke and black cherries continually flow from the glass in a dazzling, virtuosic display if power and finesse that is stunning. The wine remains incredibly fresh and primary, with superb detail, especially considering its sheer size. Today the 2006 Terra di Lavoro comes across as suprisingly accessible, but long-time connoisseurs know better; there is plenty of structure underneath. Readers are advised to taste this wine within the next few months and then forget about it for a minimum of several years. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2036.”
COS Cerasuolo Di Vittoria 2009 ($31.95) $26 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “All of the best elements of the house style come together in the 2009 Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico. An initial blast of sweet dark cherries leads to leather, spices, tobacco, and dried flowers as this beautifully textured, voluminous wine opens up in the glass. Gracious and refined, the 2009 impresses for its balance and overall sense of harmony. A juicy, floral and spice-infused finish makes it impossible to resist a second taste. Anticipated maturity 2013-2017.”
SPAIN
Bodegas Muga Rioja Blanco 2012 ($17.95) $14 special, 25 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(90% viura and 10% malvasia, fermented in new French oak, where it then spends three months on its lees): Green-tinged gold. Powerful aromas of honeydew melon, orange zest and toasty lees. Sappy, round and concentrated, offering intense melon, citrus fruit and spicecake flavors and a slow-building vanilla quality. Finishes smooth and long, with mounting spiciness and a touch of fennel.”
Jimenez Landi Sotorrondero Mentrida 2010 ($24.95) $21.90 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2010 Sotorrondero in a blend of 75% Garnacha from younger vines, though still 40-50 years old, and 25% Syrah from 12-year-old vines. The fermentation takes place in steel with malolactic in 300 or 500-liter barrels. It has a fresh, lifted bouquet of dark cherry, crushed strawberry and dark chocolate that is well defined and focused. The palate has a dash of white pepper on the entry as well as layers of chocolate-tinged dark berry fruit with a keen thread of acidity, although it finishes just a little abruptly. Nevertheless, this is a highly satisfying, full-bodied wine.”
Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 2013 ($21.95) $18 special, 3+ cases available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(90% monastrell and 10% syrah): Opaque violet color. Enticing aromas of cherry-cola, black raspberry, potpourri and Asian spices. Very ripe but fresh and energetic, with excellent clarity to its sweet dark berry and spice flavors. Juicy, penetrating and long on the finish, with the spice and floral notes echoing.”
Artadi Pagos Viejos Rioja 2007 ($99.95) $79 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2007 Pagos Viejos is sourced from Artadi’s three best and most elevated vineyard sites, all planted to Tempranillo over 75 years of age. The wine was aged for 18 months in new French oak. It sports a superb aromatic array of toasty new oak, pencil lead, violets, incense, black cherry, and blueberry. Elegant, ripe, and velvety on the palate, it has superb depth and concentration, savory flavors, a firm structure, and a 45-second finish. Give it 6-8 years of additional bottle age and drink it from 2016 to 2032.”
Artadi El Seque Alicante 2009 ($44.95) $29 special, 3 cases available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(90% monastrell and 10% syrah): Opaque violet color. Enticing aromas of cherry-cola, black raspberry, potpourri and Asian spices. Very ripe but fresh and energetic, with excellent clarity to its sweet dark berry and spice flavors. Juicy, penetrating and long on the finish, with the spice and floral notes echoing.”
SHERRY
Tio Pepe Fino En Rama Gonzalez Byass ($26.95) $21.90 special, 16 bottles available
GERMANY
Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Spatlese 2012 ($31.95) $21.90 special, 3+ cases available
“Full-bodied and rich, with minerals and lemony finish”-Importer notes
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Kabinett Trocken 2012 ($24.95) $16 special
“Great wine, more like a dry Spatlese”-Importer notes
AUSTRIA
Fx Pichler Gruner Kellerberg Smaragd 2012 ($89.95) $79 special, 30 bottles available
Falstaff Magazine 96-98 points